Sudden Death While Attempting to Conceal Illegal Drugs: Laryngeal Obstruction by a Package of Heroin

Laryngeal obstruction by an aspirated foreign body is not an uncommon cause of sudden death. Accidentally aspirated objects usually are such items as food, chewing gum, and ballons. The following case is unusual in that the victim was attempting to conceal a bulk quantity of narcotics when the fatal aspiration occurred.